OTTAWA- The federal government’s move to open up Canada’s major airports to the private sector has raised significant concern among air passengers and labor unions, with fears that it could lead to higher ticket prices.
In an interview with CTV, Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon was unable to guarantee that privatization would not increase airfares, stating only that there would be no unnecessary rate hikes. The government claims that detailed policy documents will be presented in Parliament in the coming days and maintains that this shift will help improve the overall passenger experience at airports.
The government initially aims to bring in private investment to operate four major airports: Toronto Pearson, Montréal-Trudeau, Calgary, and Vancouver. Officials stated that private participation will help accelerate infrastructure development and modernization, while the government will retain land ownership and only allow private investors into operations.
However, major Canadian labor organizations, including the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), have strongly protested the decision. The unions warn that profit-driven private companies are likely to increase landing fees and other service charges once they take control of airport operations.
